The most Popular Posts of the past seven days.

Oct 12, 2024

The Jupiter Squeeze

 SOURCE: https://www.space.com/jupiter-great-red-spot-squeezed-hubble-telescope

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is being squeezed, Hubble Telescope finds — and nobody knows why (video)

Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot has been under constant observation since the 19th century, but this new development is unprecedented.


 

Half A Century Ago on Dexter Avenue

 

Oct 12, 2024

50 years ago


On Saturday, October 12, 1974---- a group of heavily armed men, later identified as Black Muslims, shot to death a retired city policeman in a bizarre outbreak of violence on Dexter Avenue. Then three members of the group took over radio station WAPX where they exchanged gunfire with police for more than two hours while pleading for “our brothers to come join us in the revolution."

Jimmy Carter (no, not the former President) was a young reporter with a camera at the time...you can watch the film he shot, and hear his commentary HERE.

Oct 11, 2024

Paid Sick Leave? In Alabama, not so much.

 SOURCE: HERE

The Pacific region of the United States of America has the highest share of workers in the country with access to paid sick leave, with 95% of workers in the region having access to paid sick days. This region includes Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California, where progressive labor laws have contributed to these high levels of coverage.

California was one of the first states to implement a comprehensive paid sick leave law, with the Healthy Workplaces Healthy Families Act of 2014 (which requires employers provide paid sick leave to employees who work in California for 30 or more days within a year) being expanded further at the start of 2024.

The runner-up for the highest access to paid sick leave is the U.S. region of New England. This region includes Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, where on average 89% of workers have access to paid sick days.

In contrast, the East South Central region, comprising Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, comes in last, with 68% of workers having access.

The West South Central region, which comprises Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, has the second lowest coverage, with 70% access.

 A map of U.S. regions showing workers access to paid sick leave.

In U.S. Army Basic Training

 

Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina! 1969.

Oct 10, 2024

Book Author

 Killing the Buddha on the Appalachian Trail 

Author Turner spoke at NewSouth Books the other night. Read abouthis book HERE:

John Turner


 


WALETHUB Safe Cities ratings


 

 Only four Alabama cities are on the list of the 182 safest ranked by WalletHub. The closest to the top--i.e. #1--are considered the safest.

 

 

 

 

Huntsville 20

Montgomery 117

Mobile 125

Birmingham 160


Oct 8, 2024

 (from AL.COM)

“This is the real deal here with Milton,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told a Monday news conference. “If you want to take on Mother Nature, she wins 100% of the time.”

“I can say without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die,” Mayor Castor told CNN.

Tampa Bay Area, FL

What do Republican Meteorologists say?

 luckovich

Oct 6, 2024

Art Guild Exhibit

 The opening reception for the Montgomery Art Guild Regions Bank exhibit will be on Tuesday, October 8, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on the mezzanine level of the Regions Bank at 201 Monroe Street in downtown Montgomery. This location is in the RSA Tower. (Keep in mind that various map guidance apps might misdirect you to another address for the RSA. Make sure you are going to 201 Monroe Street.)

No Milton danger HERE, but....

 milton-path-oct-6.png

Democrats: Elon Musk says these are your goals.

 Before a large crowd Saturday, Musk sought to portray Trump as a champion of free speech, arguing that Democrats want “to take away your freedom of speech, they want to take away your right to bear arms, they want to take away your fight to vote, effectively.” Musk went on to criticize a California effort to ban voter ID requirements.

Oct 5, 2024

The late Kris Kristofferson---Alabama Trained

 Singer-Songwriter and Actor Kris Kristofferson Dies at 88

"He was under pressure from his family, and joined the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant, attaining the rank of captain. He became a helicopter pilot after receiving flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
He graduated Airborne School, Ranger School, and flight school, served in Germany, and volunteered for Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, but instead was offered a professor of English Literature position at USMA West Point. Disappointed that he was not allowed to fight in Vietnam, he resigned his position in 1965.
He joined the Army in 1960, training as a helicopter pilot at Fort Rucker in Alabama and later completing Ranger School,” the feature stated. “In the early 1960s, Kristofferson received his commission and served with the 8th Infantry Division in West Germany. But Kristofferson never lost his love for writing and music. While in Germany, he continued to practice his songwriting and performed with a band of fellow soldiers.”
 
SOURCE: American Hereos Homecoming

Glad to have escaped Helene

 Here in Alabama we were fortunate enough to escape the wrath of Helene.

Hurricane Helene is seen in a satellite photo on September 26.

Mr. President? Sir? Hello?

 From a story in today's NY Times:

"This week Axios documented Biden’s disappearance from public life, noting that he “hasn’t scheduled public events in 43 of the 75 days since he dropped his re-election bid.” If you think he’s only ghosting campaign-style responsibilities while engaging fully in foreign policy, I have a bridge over the Potomac to sell you. The Journal story notes, for instance, that Biden hasn’t spoken to Netanyahu since Aug. 21. An indicator of their estrangement? No doubt. But surely also an indicator that we don’t really have a full-time president anymore."

Oct 3, 2024

Former Governor Bob Riley turns 80 today ( 2024 )

Bob Riley
Former Governor of Alabama turns 80 today

Description

Robert Renfroe Riley is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party who served as the 52nd Governor of Alabama from 2003 to 2011. Wikipedia
Born: October 3, 1944 (age 75 years), Ashland, AL
Spouse: Patsy Riley (m. 1964)
Previous offices: Governor of Alabama (2003–2011), Representative, AL 3rd District (1997–2003)

Oct 2, 2024

Abandoning The Gulf Coast?

(Earlier flood photo, NOT from Helene)
 From a N.Y. Times story:


"....as some people migrate away from vulnerable regions, the population that remains grows significantly older. In coastal Florida and along other parts of the Gulf Coast, for example, the median age could increase by 10 years this century — far faster than it would without climate migration.

This aging means that older adults — particularly women, who tend to live longer — are very likely to face the greatest physical danger. In fact, there is notable overlap between the places that Mr. Hauer’s research suggests will age and the places that the First Street Foundation has identified as the zones people are abandoning.

 

Full NY Times story is HERE.

Oct 1, 2024

From The New Republic

 

Trump Just Responded to Middle East Conflict. You’ll Wish He Hadn’t.

Donald Trump has managed to make Iran launching missiles at Israel all about himself.

Donald Trump stands and sticks his tongue out slightly
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Iran launched a missile attack on Israel Tuesday, plunging the war-torn region into another layer of conflict. But one American politician was quick to make the violence about himself.

Moments after the strike, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to soak up any social credit available from the Middle Eastern provocation.

“Look at the World today—Look at the missiles flying right now in the Middle East, look at what’s happening with Russia/Ukraine, look at Inflation destroying the World,” Trump wrote in one post. “NONE OF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS PRESIDENT!”

In another post, Trump decried the conflict as “TOTALLY PREVENTABLE.”

“IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED,” Trump said. “IF I WERE PRESIDENT, IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED!”

Really? Could they have made it MORE complicated?

 New City parking meters are in use now.

Post Date:September 30, 2024

MONTGOMERY, AL -- City of Montgomery residents can expect a fresh, updated parking experience around the city when new parking kiosks go on-line on Tuesday, October 1st.

69 new parking kiosks have been strategically placed in the heart of the entertainment district in high-traffic areas to ensure a smooth parking experience as residents move about the city’s downtown area. NewParkingKiosks

The kiosks are still able to accept coin payments, but a more efficient parking experience includes the ability for residents to now pay for parking utilizing a Visa or Mastercard.

At the kiosks, users can enter their license plate number, select the appropriate amount of parking time needed, and pay using a form of card payment.

Residents should note that there are still some functional single-space parking meters in place, most of which exist on the outskirts of downtown.

When parking, residents are advised that if there is a parking meter directly in front of their parking space, they will pay that meter directly. If there is no parking meter directly in front of the parking space, then residents should proceed to the nearby kiosk to pay for parking.

Steps to Pay at New Parking Kiosks:

  1. Press Green checkmark button
  2. Enter your license plate number, then press checkmark
  3. If utilizing a card payment, enter the length of stay using the “+” or “-“ keys
  4. Present payment in coins or card
  5. Take your receipt

Residents also continue to have the option of using the ParkMobile parking app on a cellular device. Residents can download the app, text the key work present on the side of the parking kiosk or scan the QR code to pay online.

Happy 100th Birthday, President Carter!

 "Jimmy Carter, turns 100 today, saying he is “only trying to make it” past the milestone so he can cast his ballot for Kamala Harris in November’s presidential election, his grandson said.

A star-studded concert took place in his honor, the Carter Center on Sept. 17 in Atlanta. Artists such as Maren Morris, Eric Church and The War and Treaty will perform tributes “celebrating President Carter’s legacy of service to humanity.”

I was honored to meet President Carter "a few years ago" during a luncheon at The White House.

I

President Carter


 Jimmy Carter of Georgia at age 99 years. He turns 100 today, October 1, 2024.

 He will become the oldest president ever, if he is still living on June 21, 2026.

 

 

 

luckovich

Sep 30, 2024

N.Y. Times Endorses Harris

(From The Times Editorial endorsing Kamala Harris:)

 Republicans have tried to rewrite the four years of Trump’s presidency as a time of unparalleled peace, prosperity and tranquility: “the strongest economy in history,” as Senator Katie Britt of Alabama put it during the Republican National Convention.

HERE is the full Times endorsement, laying out the facts of Trump's previous term.

Sep 28, 2024

Freaks and Geeks

(It aired on..."Fox Family Channel, a cable destination one step up from a test pattern."

(From a story in today's NY Times)

(Ouch!)

Deciphering the Language of TV Test Patterns – PRINT Magazine

Sep 27, 2024

ANOTHER pedestrian death in Montgomery

 "...Around 12:43 a.m. Friday, officers and fire medics responded to the 4000 block of Troy Highway in responds to a vehicle versus pedestrian accident." (Alabama News Network).


Pedestrian Deaths Are Increasing Faster Than All Other Traffic Fatalities

Innocent Until (and unless) He is Proven Guity.

 

The N.Y. Times (of ALL media) seems to have forgotten that bedrock of journalism.

Yes, the statement below was in an editorial, but in this case it will be even more difficult than usual for the Times' reporters to ignore:

"The mayor will have his day in court and is entitled to make a vigorous defense," (How nice of The Times to admit that!) "but that does not mean he must force New York City to wait for him to prove his innocence under the law to serve the city that elected him, Mr. Adams should immediately resign and turn City Hall over to someone untainted by criminal charges and endless investigations."

    I  guess the new presumption in the Times' newsroom will be to presume guilt, till the accused proves his innocence!

How embarrassing!

Weather

 2.47 Inches of Rain in Montgomery.